–?Which research project are you most preoccupied with?
– I am most occupied with the research project called “Egalitarian but not Equal: Sectoral Wage Formation and Gendered Wage Differentials – WAGE? funded by the European Research Council ?(ERC) which started last year and will run until 2030.
–?What do you hope to find out?
– There are many reasons why gender pay inequality persists and progress has stagnated for decades in advanced industrial countries. In this study, we examine how economic value assumptions intersect with established institutions that are believed to contribute to an egalitarian wage structure. Our aim is to identify how these structures perpetuate gender-based wage inequality but also how these institutions can adapt to reduce it.
– Why is this important?
– The jobs we do and the pay we receive are not only the result of market forces; they also intersect with historical belief systems regarding which tasks and skills are valued. Today, when the economic set-up of advanced industrial economies is drastically changing, it is important to discuss how economic value is measured.
–?Who are you collaborating with?
– Two postdoctoral researchers will be joining the project this year, and it also has an international advisory board comprising scholars with different areas of expertise, based in five countries.
–?What do you look for when choosing collaborators?
– I look for expertise, originality and sociability — people with a unique insight into an issue that drives the project forward.
–?What other research projects are you involved in?
– I am also involved as a PI in the project “Encouraging a digital and green transition through revitalized and inclusive union-employer negotiations? in which we examine how transitions can be achieved equitably.
–?What do you think is the most interesting aspect of being a researcher?
– Having the time to figure out the answers to difficult and pressing questions.
- More on the "WAGE" project